Page 64 of The Caress

"Speaking of annoying," Deacon grunts. "Is there a reason for this call, or did you just run out of people in Scotland to harass?"

"I've already met my quota for the day, thank you." I grin despite the fact that he can't see me. "But shut up for a minute so I can get this all out. You’ve been a good friend to me. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather see my sister spend time with than you."

There are a few seconds of what I presume is stunned silence.

"Damn, man. Is this your way of giving your blessing to her move to L.A.?"

I scrunch up my face and exhale. I want to make things better, not worse. So I keep my voice steady.

"This is just me saying I’m sorry for how I acted before, and I hope you’ll consider her for an internship this summer if you have one available."

"I know how hard it is for you to admit when you’re wrong," he chuckles. "So I appreciate that you made this call. Thank you for that."

"I can admit when I’m wrong," I shoot back. "It’s just that it happens so rarely."

He bursts out laughing. "Right, right. Of course. I don’t know what I was thinking. But yeah, if Saffron wants to come out here for the summer, I’ll find something for her to do." He hurries to add, "Something her older brother would approve of."

There are times when I question why I’ve remained friends with Deacon for so long. Today isn’t one of those times.

He’s a good guy and a hell of a friend. I’m lucky to have him on my side. But I’ll still kick his ass if he tries anything with my sister.

New York is starting to feel more and more like a place I could call home. I’ve always enjoyed the fast pace of life in Manhattan, but I’ve never really considered where I might like to live in the city until recently.

Now, with Ella, Isla. Joy in tow, I’m hoping we can all four agree on the perfect place to settle down while we’re here. I don’t think I’ll ever give up my estate in Scotland, but it would be nice to have a base of operations in America now that we’ve outgrown a single hotel suite.

"What did you all think of the last place?" I ask on the elevator ride up to a penthouse overlooking Central Park. "The building was brand new with lots of fun stuff, right?"

"I liked that there was a pool on the roof!" Isla claps her hands together in excitement. "And a movie theaterwaydownunderneath the building."

"With about sixty floors of neighbors in between," Ella points out. "I’m curious to see this place," she says instead. "A duplex in a smaller building seems like it might be a better fit for us."

We all turn to Joy, who blushes and nibbles at her lip. "I've liked every one we've seen so far, but," she pauses for a moment. "Do you think we can get a cotton candy machine like they had in that one kitchen? That would be really cool."

Ella looks over at me and smiles. "No promises on the cotton candy machine," she says, pulling her younger sister in for a half-hug. "Our dentist would probably have a heart attack."

The elevator opens up, and we step out into the bright, airy foyer of a two-story duplex with floor-to-ceiling views of the park.

"Wow," both kids say at the same time as they run over to the window together.

The real estate agent is grinning from ear to ear as she walks in from the living room to meet us. "It looks like we have the seal of approval from two of the toughest critics," she says with a nod toward the kids. "What about the two of you? First impressions?"

I can’t stop smiling as I look at Ella. "I think you might have been right about this place, baby."

"Yeah?" Her eyes are bright and full of possibilities as they dart around the room. "It’s so bright and open. It feels…" She’s beaming as I reach for her hand. "It feels like home."

Home.

Our first home together.

It’s a damn good feeling to know that we’ll both be able to put our own personal touches on this place and that our two distinct styles will overlap and mesh until it becomes something entirely new.

Something that looks like us. Both of us.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

ELLA

Later, we christen the new penthouse. Isla has gone to bed. Ella is walking from the living room to the dining room, shaking her head. When she sees me leaning against the doorway of the primary bedroom, she comes over, a lot of awe still in her voice.

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